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Canada proposes $250,000 fines for rail safety misses

By Reuters

05/20/2014|www.cos-mag.com

OTTAWA (Reuters) — Canada will propose fines of up to $250,000 on railway companies that violate safety requirements, the government announced in the latest reaction to last year's deadly oil-by-rail crash in Lac-Mégantic, Que.

"The proposed regulations introduce penalties as an additional enforcement tool to improve railway safety," Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said. "These monetary penalties will help crack down on rule-breakers and improve the safety of the Canadian railway system.

The administrative penalties, already in use in the marine and aviation sectors, provide a faster alternative to prosecution, Raitt said.

Maximum fines will be $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a corporation.

Rail safety came to the fore after last July's fiery oil-train crash which levelled the heart of Lac-Mégantic and killed 47 people.